North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company (Durham, N.C.)

Oldest currently active African American-owned insurance company in the United States, founded in 1898 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina.

From the description of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company Archives, 1850-2008 and undated. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 727944850

• 1898 - 1919 : John Merrick
• 1919 - 1923 : Dr. Aaron McDuffie Moore
• 1923 - 1952 : Charles C. Spaulding, Sr.
• 1952 - 1958 : William J. Kennedy, Jr.
• 1959 - 1967 : Asa T. Spaulding, Sr.
• 1968 - 1972 : Joseph W. Goodloe
• 1972 - 1990 : William J. Kennedy, III
• 1990 - 2003 : Bert Collins
• 2004 - : James H. Speed

• 1883: The Royal Knights of King David, a fraternal organization, formed by John Merrick, John Wright, W. A. Day, J. D. Morgan, and T. J. Jones to provide insurance for African Americans, chiefly for burials
• 1898: Inspired by the Royal Knights of King David, North Carolina Mutual and Provident Association founded by John Merrick, Dr. Aaron Moore, P. W. Dawkins, D. T. Watson, W. G. Pearson, E. A. Johnson and J. E. Shepard John Merrick, born during slavery, named first president; Dr. Aaron Moore, first medical director
• 1899: North Carolina Mutual incorporated by the North Carolina General Assembly, began doing business selling burial insurance
• 1900: Charles Clinton (C.C.) Spaulding named general manager
• 1901: Dr. Aaron Moore and John Merrick found the Lincoln Hospital in Durham to serve African Americans, with Moore as its first superintendent
• 1903: First full-time insurance agents hired Launch of first internal publication: The North Carolina Mutual NCM began to buy lots in Durham and build houses for influx of black workers
• 1907: NCM began issuing ordinary whole life policies in $100, $200, and $500 face amounts NCM founded and provided capital for Mechanics and Farmers Bank in Durham, to better serve African Americans
• 1910: Merrick-Moore-Spaulding Land Company formed; as NCM real estate subsidiary, constructed hundreds of low-cost rental houses in African American neighborhoods in Durham
• 1919: Death of President John Merrick; Dr. A. M. Moore appointed as successor NCM charter amended, changing the name to North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company
• 1920 - 1921 : Dr. Donnell, new director of Medical Department, organized modern medical facilities in new Home Office
• 1923: C.C. Spaulding became president after the death of Dr. Moore
• 1943: The Liberty Ship S.S. John Merrick, named in honor of the company's first president, was launched from Wilmington, N.C.; participated in the invasion of France in June 1944, making many voyages ferrying troops, tanks and supplies between English ports and Utah Beach; returned to Brooklyn, New York, April 1945
• 1948: North Carolina Mutual marked its golden anniversary, producing short film, Success Story
• 1950: The company reached its goal of having $200 million of life insurance in force
• 1952: William J. Kennedy, Jr. appointed president after the death of C. C. Spaulding
• 1959: Asa T. Spaulding appointed president after William J. Kennedy, Jr.'s retirement from the office
• 1960: Director of Medical Department, Dr. Donnell, retired, succeeded by Dr. Charles Watts
• 1966: The company dedicated its headquarters on Chapel Hill Street with Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey as the keynote speaker
• 1967: The Board of Directors established the Merrick-Moore-Spaulding National Achievement Award
• 1968: Joseph W. Goodloe became president after Asa T. Spaulding's retirement from the office
• 1971: NCM broke into Billion Dollar League by having more than one billion dollars of insurance in force
• 1972: William J. Kennedy, III became president after Joseph Goodloe's retirement from the office
• 1983: Opening of the Heritage Room, a pictorial exhibit of the company's history
• 1986: The company forms NCM Capital Management Group, Inc. to expand its presence in the financial arena and to diversify its business and investment mix
• 1987: Director of Medical Department, Dr. Charles Watts, retired, succeeded by Dr. John Daniel, Jr.; several years later, Medical Department is discontinued
• 1990: Bert Collins appointed president and CEO after William Kennedy III's retirement from the office
• 1995: Board member Thelma J. Smith was named chair of the audit committee; first woman to head a major NCM committee
• 1997: NCM licensed to operate in 22 states and the District of Columbia with offices in 11 states and Washington, D.C., and more than $9 billion of insurance in force
• 1998: NCM celebrated its centennial anniversary
• 2004: James H. Speed, Jr. appointed president and CEO after Bert Collins' retirement from the office

From the guide to the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company Archives, and undated, bulk 1898-2008, 1850-2008, (David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University University Archives, Records and History Center, North Carolina Central University)